One of the most important events on my annual professional calendar is the Orange Conference.

Why Orange? In sum, when it comes to a student ministry curriculum, I have not found one as powerful, versatile, comprehensive, and intentional as Orange. It cares for the middle school student just as much as the elderly aunt who takes care of him. Orange seeks to equip the entire family, not just the teenage kid, for both individual and familial faith. That simple.

As a user since 2011, I've continually been sold by how well it prepares me to share the Gospel with teenagers and build parent partnerships for faithful ministry in the home.

Not long ago my wife introduced me to the best show on television... Chopped. I love it. Hands down noting beats it. A simple show in concept: four chefs compete against one another using a basket of mystery ingredients - yet so captivating!

Why? Because the ingredients equalize the playing field. Whether the chef be a novice out of culinary a school or a multi-restaurant owner veteran, each chef receives the ingredients at the same time and must respond to them.

The ingredients are the star of the show. They call out the character of the chef. Not the other way around. It's the ingredients that define the path.

Said C.S. Lewis, "The prayer that precedes all prayers is may the real me meet the real you."

A great friend of mine from college once shared this quote with me. He and I served in Young Life together, leading high school students toward a growing relationship with Jesus. I can recall that he ended nearly every one of his ministry talks with this quote just prior to closing in prayer:

"May the real me meet the real you."

I probably listened to him share this quote with me dozens of times. I think I also used it. But quite honestly, I don't think I understood the meaning behind it until much later in life. Intellectually I understood it. It's simple in structure, but truly profound in its meaning.

Perhaps I missed it time after time because inherent within this quote lays an assumption that you know the real you.

A while back, I attended a camp on the Central Coast of California with my Anthem high school crew. I must admit, this is why I do student ministry! I love camps. I love retreats. I love all-nighters. Quite simply, I love any event that gives me more than an hour with a kid. It's the bread and butter of why I do what I do.

During camp weeks, especially as I have become a more seasoned veteran in the camping world, I enjoy allowing a few hours during my week to get out of the way of my students and let them be kids. This space frees them to meet others without a hovering leader, and it provides space for me to relax, read, and invest in the other camp staff.

Instagram pics

Mr. and Mrs. Claus… Love these two with all of my heart. So grateful for my family. So grateful for the Prince of Peace. So grateful for Christmas, for the moment when God entered into our world to save us from our sin. #myreedfamilylove #peace

Love serving alongside this powerhouse duo! #Repost @findthy.fire with @repostapp
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@christjourney has given me so much, it's only fitting to jump in with #CJMerryMonday ❤